Prep Hoops Summer Challenge: Sunday Standouts
Luke Appel, 6’7 SF (Iowa Dynasty 17U) — 2018
A recent Marshalltown graduate who is headed to JuCo Kirkwood next season, Appel strung together one of the finer eight minute stretches we’ve ever seen in the semifinals. He scored 20 points during that stretch to start the second half, and was both overpowering smaller opponents in the paint and hitting from deep. Look for him to possibly land with a D1 school two years from now.
Dante Eldridge, 5’8 PG (Iowa Dynasty 17U) — 2019
Whoa was he good on Sunday. He’s always good, but it was like he went into turbo-mode in the semifinals and finals. Eldridge is extremely quick, sneaky athletic and has some of the fastest hands we’ve seen; he’ll definitely swipe you if your’re not extremely careful with the ball. He’s smart, poised and skilled. Eldridge is one of Iowa’s very best point guards.
Mike Barker, 6′ G (Iowa Dynasty 17U) — 2018
I asked Barker after his semifinal game against D1 Minnesota Prospects how many Red Bulls he had before it; he, like the rest of teammates that game, seemed to be in turbo-mode. Barker was rebounding very well, using his hops and extreme length to corral anything that came off the rim. And he had the highlight play of the day when he ripped a dude at mid-court and breezed to the hoop all alone for a huge flush. The look on the ref’s face after the dunk was one of esteem.
Matthew Kaznikov, 6’3 SF (Wolverines) — 16U
A big and strong wing, when this Stevenson rising junior gets going downhill, he’s almost impossible to stop. During a semifinal game against Breakaway Basketball, Kaznikov scored a game-high 21 points, and did so while showcasing a sweet stroke from deep, and by throwing some weight around and exploiting smaller wings in the paint.
Nathan Shockey, 6′ PG (Breakaway Basketball 16U) — 2020
We can’t help but think of Steve Nash whenever we see the point guard do his thing. He’s a little flashy, but always in control, and ever so skilled. He’s always got his head up, and his ball-handing is second-nature, so he’s able to probe the defense without ever losing his handle. His best strength might be his jumper. Meanstreets went to a box-and-one on his after he canned three early triples in the title game. Oh, he’s a slick passer too.
Colin O’Rourke, 6’6 F (Breakaway Basketball 16U) — 2020
When we were watching him early in a game against Wolverines, it appeared O’Rourke was a big-man. As the game went on, it became quite clear that he was a combo-forward. He’s big, but nimble and has a deceivingly quick first-step. He can handle it, too. The Plainfield North rising junior even stepped out and hit a 3-ball in that semifinal win.
Jason Bergstrom, 6’4 G/F (Wolverines 16U) — 2020
This is one of the better looking prospects we saw all weekend in Chicago. At first glance we couldn’t tell if he was an undersized big or an imposing wing, he’s definitely the latter. A tall and athletic build accompany deft ball-handling and a jumper with enough elevation that it’s very tough to contest. He was using his dribble-drive to get to hoop and finish skillfully too. There were times where he was unstoppable in the semifinals against Breakaway Basketball.
Tevin Smith, 6’4 SG (Meanstreets 2021) — 2021
On a really good and really well-balanced Meanstreets squad, it was Smith who led the charge with a team-high 16 points in the final. He helped lead the team — which was playing up a grade — to the 16U title while being a primary ball-handler and aggressively attacking the hoop. All of his points came from inside the arch or at the free-throw line, where he was especially proficient.